Limitations of Chinese Drone Warfare

The prospect of over one million combat-ready drones from China is formidable, yet there are significant limitations inherent to such a large deployment. The effectiveness of drones is often compromised by the trade-off between payload and range, impacting their ability to reach and effectively engage distant naval targets. Additionally, many drones require continuous oversight through telemetry links, which poses challenges when targeting moving ships or units positioned beyond the horizon. This reliance on technology emphasizes that without adequate targeting capabilities and systems like reconnaissance satellites, even a large number of drones may struggle to make impactful combat contributions against established enemy defenses.